Question for flx757 et al.about guitar

[Dizel8]

So, got my "new" Carvin guitar, beautiful, excellent sound, except if I use distortion, then it sounds horrible. Extremely metalic sound, almost like its fretting, except, it isn't. Further, again with distortion, it sounds out of tune, yet it's dead on.

I use a Peavey amp and with the Kramer guitar it is not an issue, but with the Carvin it is bad.

Any suggestions?

 

[Jmmccutc]

are you using any type of preamp?

 

[skyking1976]

Also, does your Carvin have active electronics? What kind of peavey amp?

SK

 

[flx757]

Like some of the others suggested, I need more info. What type of pickups are you using? Even which model Carvin...that would let me know if it had active electronics. Also you used the word "new" in quotations, so I take it to mean it is really not new, only new to you. Did you get it used from eBay, or somewhere like that? Was it modified in any way? Again, without more info, it's hard to answer your question. Perhaps with a little more info, I could help.

Also, there are a LOT of knowledgeable guys over on the Carvin BBS found at www.carvin.com under "Discussion Boards".

And if you really want EXPERT help with any Carvin guitar, call Carvin direct and ask to speak to Albert. He builds 'em, and he will take as much time as necessary to help work out your problem. In fact, any of the guys...Marco, Charles, Carl, Robert, etc...will do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of whatever problem you might have to your satisfaction. Their customer service is second to none.

 

[skyking1976]

Almost forgot to ask... Are you using the distortion on the amp or a distortion pedal?

 

[Dizel8]

I am using the amp distortion on a Peavey Rage 185, no active electronics as far as I know. Not sure what brand p/u, it only says "sd" on the bottom. Below is the description of the guitar from ebay:
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Up for auction is this beautiful Carvin Custom Shop guitar. This
baby is in almost perfect shape and has zero fret wear. I'm not even sure where to start, this is one sweet guitar. For starters, this is a top of the line hand built, American made guitar. It features a neck through body, thick flamed maple sunburst top, spretzel tuners, a three way splitable humbucker, thick ebony fret board, and just about anything else you could want, plus, it is all original. The flame on this is one of the best I have ever owned. It was hard to capture in pictures, but it is awesome. The flame runs to the sides, and there is a beautiful wave in the grain that is bookmatched as well that runs from the top to the bottom, it makes the flame look so deep it is unreal! The guitar is finished in a great cherry sunburst, and it is matched on the neck and the back as well, not just the front as on cheep guitars. The coolest aspect of this guitar is the pickup and electronics. This was custom ordered from carvin with a single high output humbucker than can be used as a humbucker, or split into the north poles, or south poles. This gives the guitar a huge array of sounds, from deep driving sounds, to thinner alomost strat like tones. The sustain on this is unreal. The neck through lets the notes ring for days. The action is very, very low, with zero buzz at even the 24th fret. The guitar comes in its original deluxe custom fit case. It has two locks and one latch, all function perfectly. You will not believe the condition of this baby, just wonderful. I have treated it with the utmost care, it is frequently polished and the fret board oiled. Keep in mind, this was completely a custom shop order, everything was dictated to carvin to be done in a specific way. !
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So there you have it, help much appreciated.

And waiting for Albert to call

Thanks,

D8

 

[skyking1976]

Try messing with the pick-up splitting. There might be a switch problem or something causing interference. Also, you might try changing the strings. New patch cords may help matters as well.

Good luck, and if all else fails, take your axe to a guitar shop. They might find something that you may overlook.

SK

 

[flx757]

A single humbucker. I think I may have seen this guitar listed more than once as a "prototype" for these guys who were going to build their own line of guitars. Carvin makes no "single humbucker" model, although they would build you one if you asked them to.

A guess on the "SD" pickup, (assuming it comes from Carvin) would be the M22SD. It is the highest output humbucker offered by Carvin...used mostly by metal players. I have one in the bridge position of an SC90, paired with an M22V in the neck, although if I am using only one of the pickups, it is usually the M22V at the neck position. The M22SD blends well with the V, but doesn't give me what I'm looking for usually by itself. I don't have a coil splitter on this particular model, since the M series pickups (IMO) don't split well.

If I want a singlecoil sound, I go with a singlecoil pickup. I have one guitar with dual humbuckers, coil splitters, and a singlecoil in the center position. This give me the most options, but I also have a dual humbucker semi-hollow body with lower output pickups...more of a jazz type pickup, which also have coil splitters and a phase switch, and this gives me almost as many options, but overall, is the most versitile.

I know none of this really has anything to do with your original question. Just giving my take on the variious models and pickup combinations. As far as distortion goes, the M series pickups distort well...but I use separate effects pedals for most effects. About the only thing I get from the amp is a great clean tone, and the full tube soak distortion (if I play somewhere where I can turn it up loud enough to do so...which is rare).

Again, your best bet to get specific input on your particular guitar/pickup combination is directly from Carvin. And I am sure they will be most happy to help you out.

 

[FL717]

It sure sounds like you have active electronics. Check the back of the guitar for a small battery size compartment. I knew someone a few years ago that swore he did not have a battery compartment and when I saw and played his guitar, I found a dead battery.

On my Carvin DC400, when the battery runs down it becomes real weak and a tin like sound in distortion, while the clean sound remains "fairly" fidelic, except a little thinner.

If indeed you are running passive electronics, the problem lies elsewhere and we need to start at the basic questions.

First... did the guitar ever play "Good" since you first got it, or has it always sounded poor?

 

[flx757]

Don't listen to this guy. He took lessons from John Petrucci. What could he POSSIBLY know....

 

[FL717]

Don't listen to this guy. He took lessons from John Petrucci. What could he POSSIBLY know....

Playing with John Petrucci showed me that I didn't know squat!

Anybody that loves guitar, go to his website www.JohnPetrucci.com
and check out his band Dream Theater, and his new signature line of guitars.

 

[skyking1976]

Learning guitar from John Petrucci is like learning aerobatics from Sean Tucker. Awesome! Dream Theater kicks ass!!!!

 

[FL717]

I actually started playing guitar in the mid 1980's because I saw Ace Frehley from Kiss and thought he was incredible. When I moved and started playing in bands in NYC in 1989, I found out that minor pentatonic "Ace" licks just didn't cut it with all the shredders out there.

I hooked up with John Petrucci through a vocalist I knew, and he literally transformed how I looked at the guitar. I was in NYC a week ago Saturday to see Dream Theater at MSG Theater. Incredibly unbelieveble is all I can say.

I stopped playing guitar in 1996 to fly full time, and literally didn't pick up a guitar again until about a year ago.

I recently bought a Fender Strat re-issue from Flx757, and recently bought another Les Paul from E-bay, and might actually look to put together a jam again sometime down the road.

At one time I owned 12 guitars (mostly Les Pauls). I sold most of them to help with flying at the Regionals. I'm going to buy the new John Petrucci Signature series with my pay raise this month.....(Thank you AirTran).

I currently own 7 guitars:

Les Paul Custom (Ace Frehley Sunburst)
Les Paul Studio Gem series (Emerald)
Carvin DC400 (Green/Black burst)
Fender Stratocaster (Gold)... (Thanks Flx757)
Jackson Soloist (Gun Metal gray)
Ovation Electric/Acoustic (Natural)
Washburn Stratocaster Copy (White)

I still have my stage gear:

Marshall 100 watt stereo chorus Head w/ 4X12 cabinets (Top and Bottom).

Sorry to hijack the thread... thought I would share with my fellow pilots/musicians.

 

[flx757]

And after all this time, FL717 and I are finally getting together to jam come September. Should be a he!! of a show!!

 

[skyking1976]

You guys need a bass player?

SK

 

[flx757]

skyking,

I recently ordered a custom bass that Carvin is building for me as we speak. It is something I have always wanted to do...I even wanted my first guitar to be a bass, but the sales guy at the music store talked my folks out of it...but I'm going to give it a go, finally. Pointers most welcome!!

 

[skyking1976]

Pointers most welcome!!

A light touch (right hand) goes a long way...

Buy one of those finger exercisers. You'll need it...

Be prepared for the most haggard looking finger callouses you have ever seen...

Don't use Roto-Sound strings, no matter how good people will say they sound. They chew up frets like Oprah in a room full of fried chicken...

Buy a bass amp. Very few guitar amps will make a bass sound decent. If you happen to have a Fender Bassman, you're in luck...

Watching guys like Geddy Lee, John Myung, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Manring, etc. will just make you feel inadequate. While entertaining, they will humble you...

If you pull up on the strings, you will snap the neck... (personal lesson learned)

Enjoy it. One of the most versatile instruments ever made. It is an absolute blast to play.

Cheers,
SK

 

[flx757]

skyking,

Thanks for the tips. I am trying to get as many as I can from as many sources as possible. As a matter of fact, I DO have a bass amp. It was one of the reasons I finally decided to go ahead and get the bass and finally try and learn after 30+ years of playing the guitar, since like I mentioned earlier...it was the bass that I wanted to play in the first place.

As far as being humbled...well, I'm used to that, He!!, even FL717 (as much as I like to razz him) humbled me pretty good the last time we played briefly together....and he kept telling me how rusty he was.....

When we get together again in Sept for some REAL playing and experimentation...I'm sure humbled won't even remotely describe how I will feel....

 

[Jet_Dreamer]

skyking, you a bass player?

i bet you own a jazz bass.

rotosounds dont chew up frets. i have been using them for many years.

 

[Tripower455]

Check in the control cavity for a 9 volt battery. Oftentimes when they install active pickups, instead of routing for the battery, they stick it in the control cavity.

It could also be the amp/guitar combo that just doesn't sound good. If it sounds good clean, then it's likely that the electronics are good (ie, no cold solder joints etc). I have a Crate GX30 that sounds great with my kid's strat, my P-90 equipped SG and my Steinberger(HSH), but my Les Paul (SD 59/JB) sounds horrible through it distorted. Through my 15 watt Traynor tube combo, the LP sounds like it should, which is to say GREAT! Take it to a guitar store and try out a few different amps (Guitar Center LOVES when you do this ) and see how it sounds. You might be surprised.

Could SD be Seymour Duncan?

Buy one of those finger exercisers. You'll need it...

You beat me to it!!!!!!

I bought a cheapo, P Bass knockoff for some home recording projects, and after a few takes, the fingers on my left hand just plain hurt. The cable that they call bass strings are evil!


If you really want to feel inadequate, watch some of John Entwistle's work with The Who....... He's like EVH on the bass!

I really miss The Ox!